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A Twitter friend of mine is outraged at what has happened, and so am I. I just heard Rush speak to some of the people who there, and this is worse than we thought. We knew there were going to be union bosses there with their minnions, but they were there only to do violence with anyone who disagreed with the democrat politician. This is NOT a republican form of government anymore. PS. Read the Constitution. We were promised a republican form of government, NOT a democracy. Please read his press release.

For Immediate Release

August 7th, 2009

Phone: (***) ***-****

ALG Condemns SEIU Beating of Kenneth Gladney at St. Louis Town Hall, Calls for Special Prosecutor to “Investigate White House Complicity”

August 6th, 2009, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today condemned the brutal beating of activist Kenneth Gladney in South St. Louis County, MO, at a town hall event sponsored by Congressman Russ Caranhan (D-MO) by SEIU members who Wilson said “appears to have been sent out purposely to intimidate the crowd and instigate violence.”

Wilson said that a Special Prosecutor would need to be called “to investigate the possibility of White House complicity in this union thuggery.” The White House told representatives and senators ‘punch back twice as hard’ against opposition to Barack Obama’s government-run health care initiative, and “clearly some of their followers took the message to heart,” Wilson said.

According to Kenneth Gladney’s attorney, David B. Brown, “Kenneth was attacked on the evening of August 6, 2009 at Rep. Russ Carnahan’s town hall meeting in South St. Louis County. I was at the town hall meeting as well and witnessed the events leading up to the attack of Kenneth. Kenneth was approached by an SEIU representative as Kenneth was handing out ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ flags to other conservatives.”

The statement continued, “The SEIU representative demanded to know why a black man was handing out these flags. The SEIU member used a racial slur against Kenneth, then punched him in the face. Kenneth fell to the ground. Another SEIU member yelled racial epithets at Kenneth as he kicked him in the head and back. Kenneth was also brutally attacked by one other male SEIU member and an unidentified woman.”

According to the statement, “The three men were clearly SEIU members, as they were wearing T-shirts with the SEIU logo.”

“This sort of thuggish political violence is what one would expect in Mussolini’s Italy by the Black Shirts,” said Wilson, adding that, “This is pure fascist aggression. The SEIU is sending out goon squads to beat people up who disagree with ObamaCare. Only a Special Prosecutor can determine if it was done with the knowledge of the White House and Congressman Carnahan.”

After watching the video, Wilson said, “The part where the attackers claimed they were attacked, when Mr. Gladney is clearly on his back, is straight out of the SEIU-ACORN playbook. They train their thugs well. Only, this time, they were caught.”

According to Brown’s statement, Gladney was being civil when he was attacked: “Kenneth was beaten badly. One assailant fled on foot; three others were arrested. Kenneth was admitted to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center emergency room, where he was treated for his numerous injuries. Kenneth was merely expressing his freedom of speech by handing out the flags. In fact, he merely asked people as they exited the town hall meeting whether they would like a flag.”

Brown insisted that Gladney “in no way provoked any argument or altercation, as evidenced by the fact that three assailants were arrested.”

“This is a sad chapter in American history,” Wilson declared, “when a man is cruelly assaulted by political hooligans merely for expressing his beliefs and exercising his First Amendment rights to speak freely and peaceably assemble.”

Wilson said there was a causal relationship between the White House’s call to “punch back” against opposition to Barack Obama’s government-run health care initiative and the incident. “The White House sent out millions of emails, as did the DNC, and the SEIU, all calling on supporters to attend these meetings. And now we know why.”

The SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, was formed by Wade Rathke, also founder of the group, ACORN, which Barack Obama served as an attorney for. “These are the same people that helped get Barack Obama elected,” Wilson explained.

According to the Brown’s statement, “This was a truly senseless hate crime carried out by racist union thugs. Regretfully, Representative Carnahan’s statements blaming Kenneth for being a disruptive force are wholly untrue and slanderous.”

Carnahan today stated that “Sadly, we’ve seen stories about disrupters around the country, and we have a handful of them here in Missouri.”

“The only disruption that occurred was of Mr. Gladney’s rights to life-and-limb as an American citizen,” Wilson said in response, charging that, “Carnahan appears to have been complicit in the incident.”

Wilson also condemned press outlets for failing to report on Mr. Gladney’s story. “Where is the controlled media?” Wilson asked. “Where is CNN? Where is Olbermann and Matthews? They rave about ‘mobs’ but turn a blind eye to a man who was beaten by union thugs. They should hang their heads in shame, or else apply for network anchor positions in Venezuela.”

Wilson said a Special Prosecutor to investigate the White House, SEIU, and Carnahan was necessary because “The American people have no faith in Eric Holder’s Justice Department, which just let two goons off-the-hook who were intimidating voters in 2008 at a Philadelphia polling station with Billy clubs.”

“If anyone thinks there was no relationship between Obama’s call to “punch back” and this brutality in the streets of St. Louis, we have some nice real estate that runs over the East River in New York we’d think they’d be interested in purchasing,” Wilson concluded.

Interview Availability: Please contact Robert Romano at (703)383-0880 or at Robert@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

# # #

Americans for Limited Government is a non- partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms,private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website at www.GetLiberty.org

WASHINGTON (June 8, 2009) – The investigation into a May 4 close-air support incident in Afghanistan’s Farah province that caused civilian casualties has pointed to some deviations from established tactics, techniques and procedures, but those involved showed extraordinary care in the incident, the Pentagon’s press secretary said Monday.

Geoff Morrell said Army Brig. Gen. Raymond Thomas conducted the review and briefed Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on the recommendations of his report.

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell responds to questions posed by members of the news media during a June 8, 2009, Pentagon press conference. DoD photo by R. D. Ward (Released)

Thomas conducted the investigation on orders from U.S. Central Command chief Army Gen. David H. Petraeus. The full report will be released later this week.

“It appeared to me … that the personnel involved took extraordinary care in tracking the militants that they had come under attack from,” said Morrell, who attended Thomas’s briefing.

An Afghan unit had come in contact with Taliban militants and asked for back-up from U.S. Marines. “That unit came in, and over the next several hours beat back this attack, killing several dozen Taliban in the process, and required some close air support to ultimately prevail,” Morrell said.

The investigation found some problems with the way in which close-air support was used. A B-1 bomber, because of the way the aircraft makes its approach, had to break away from positive identification of its targets, Morrell said.

“There’s no way to determine whether or not that had anything to do with the fact that civilian casualties did incur in this incident, but they did note that as one of the problems associated with how this all took place,” the press secretary said.

Between 20 and 30 Afghan civilians died in the incident, U.S. officials have said. “I’m going to let [Central Command] speak to the final numbers,” Morrell said. “But they were greatly outnumbered by the Taliban killed in this incident.”

Morrell called the Thomas report “exhaustive” and said that the Americans on the ground went to great lengths to limit civilian casualties.

American forces already have tightened rules for close-air support, Morrell said, and there will be a further review of procedures. Since the beginning of the year, civilian casualties in Afghanistan are down 40 percent, he noted. Meanwhile, he added, “American casualties and that of our coalition partners and Afghan security forces have shot up 75 percent.”

Morrell said coalition officials want to reduce civilian casualties to zero, but that it’s impossible to do so. “I would be foolish to stand up here and say that we’ll ultimately eliminate civilian casualties, but we are going to make every effort we can to reduce them,” he said.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (May 20, 2009) — Humanitarian aid provided by United States arrived at Chaklala Air Base near Islamabad this afternoon in response to an appeal for urgently needed basic food, shelter, and supplies for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North West Frontier Province.

Airmen unload crates of humanitarian aid upon arrival in Islamabad, Pakistan Wednesday. The aid items are bound for displaced Pakistanis in the North West Frontier province.

The shipments, which arrived by U.S. military air transport included air-conditioned tents and more than 120,000 pre-packed halal meals. U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson delivered the supplies to Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed, the government of Pakistan’s coordinator of all IDP relief operation. The Ambassador was accompanied by the U.S. Embassy’s chief military officer, Admiral Michael LeFever.

“We understand the urgency of providing immediate assistance to those displaced and are committed to helping the Government of Pakistan meet their critical needs,” said U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson. The United States will continue to monitor the situation and is committed to providing additional assistance as needed.

The deliveries follow yesterday’s announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton that $110 million in immediate humanitarian assistance is being provided by the United States to assist IDPs. Last week, the people of the United States provided $4.9 million to purchase tents, blankets, cooking sets, jerry cans, soap, and bedding.

The United States also sent logistical equipment including generators, transformers to power water pumps, and other logistical and support equipment. This included laptop computers, rental cars, and internet connectivity to assist emergency support operations. In addition, $28 million in agricultural commodities including 50,000 metric tons of wheat valued at $16.8 million, and 6,800 metric tons of vegetable oil valued at $11.2 million was provided by the United States last week.

WASHINGTON (May 17, 2009) – The Afghan national army could lead operations in Afghanistan in two to four years, with the U.S. playing a support role, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a May 8 interview, portions of which aired on CBS’ “60 Minutes” Sunday.

As the handover of responsibilities to national forces in Afghanistan develops, it is likely to mirror security progress that unfolded in Iraq following the surge of U.S. troops there, Gates said during the interview, conducted with Katie Couric in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul.

“I think what you’ll see is the same kind of evolution here that you have seen in Iraq, and that is where the Iraqis have increasingly taken the lead and we have increasingly receded into the background,” he said. “I think that’s what will happen here over time.”

The Afghan national army has about 86,000 troops with a “significant number” of battalions leading joint operations with U.S. and NATO International Security Assistance Forces, Gates said.

The defense secretary said the Afghan army is showing progress as the size of its ranks grows over coming years to the currently authorized number of 134,000 troops. He also expressed confidence in the Pakistani army’s ability to root out terrorist safe havens along its border with Afghanistan, but he used measured terms in providing his assessment, acknowledging that the situation is subject to change.

“War is inherently unpredictable, okay, and the enemy always has a vote,” he said. “But I think that if things go according to the way that our commanders are planning and the strategies that we’re following, that would be our anticipation.”

Some 47,000 U.S. forces serve in Afghanistan — a number that is rising as 17,000 additional American troops arrive there. Meanwhile, NATO member countries and partners have more than 32,000 forces in country.

Gates, who has previously criticized the NATO contribution, reiterated his frustration at the disparity of force levels.

“I’ve been disappointed with NATO’s response to this ever since I got this job,” he said, pointing out that even excluding the U.S., the has almost 2 million men under arms. “Why they can’t get more than 32,000 to Afghanistan has always been a puzzle to me.”

As the U.S. begins to implement the Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy that President Barack Obama’s Administration unveiled in March, Gates described his impression of American expectations.

“I think what the people in the United States want to see is the momentum shifting to see that the strategies that we’re following are working, “ he said. “And that’s why I’ve said in nine months to a year we need to evaluate how we’re doing, to see whether, in fact, the situation is getting better.”

During the program, Couric asked Gates – who is the only cabinet secretary holdover from President George W. Bush’s administration – why he agreed to remain in his position as defense secretary. He replied: “I do it because it’s my duty.”

“I do it almost exclusively for these young men and women out here in uniform and whatever I can do to help them,” he continued. “The rest is all fluff as far as I’m concerned.”

EN ROUTE TO CAIRO (May 4, 2009) – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is en route to Egypt and Saudi Arabia for sessions aimed at reaffirming ties with the important regional powers that both have strong military-to-military relationships with the United States.

The visits “clearly are all about strengthening relationships with long-time friends,” Gates told reporters traveling aboard a military aircraft with him.

The secretary, who last visited both countries a year and a half ago, is expected to focus on regional security issues, including the Middle East peace process and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The trip is Gates’ first overseas visit in almost five months, except for a brief NATO conference in Krakow, Poland, in February. “I felt that it was important to focus on the budget and the strategy relating to the budget,” he explained. “And I also thought it was important to stick around Washington and get to know my new colleagues and establish strong relationships with them, which I think I have been able to do.”

Now back on the road, Gates said, he’ll encourage both Egypt and Saudi Arabia to forge stronger diplomatic ties with Iraq. Recognizing suspicion “about how much influence Iran has in Baghdad,” Gates credited the Egyptians with taking “some serious steps forward to re-engage” with the Iraqi government.

“If the Arab world is concerned about Iranian influence, then the way to deal with that is to have more Arab influence in Baghdad – more ambassadors, more engagement with regional security arrangements that involve the Arab states,” he said. “So I think one way to allay their concerns if for them to reach out and be a counter-influence in Baghdad. I think that is very important.”

Gates said he’ll also offer assurances that any U.S. outreach to Iran “will not be at the expense of our long-term relationships with Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states that have been our partners and our friends for decades.”

The United States will deal with Iran “in a sensible way, and in a way that hopefully increases the security of everybody in the region, not just us,” he said.

“I just think it is important to reassure our friends and allies in the region that while we are willing to reach out to the Iranians — as the president said, with an open hand — I think everybody in the administration from the president on down is pretty realistic and will be pretty tough-minded if we still encounter a closed fist,” Gates said.

During the first stop of his trip, in Cairo, Gates said, he plans to discuss Egypt’s role in the Middle East peace process.

“The Egyptians have played a huge role in terms of the Israeli-Palestinian problem in trying to be a go-between and help move that process forward,” he said. “The Egyptians have played a critical role in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for a long time.”

The U.S.-Egyptian bilateral military relationship will be another major agenda item. “We also undoubtedly will talk about smuggling in the Gaza and the programs we are working on together to try and limit that kind of smuggling,” Gates said.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers team in Egypt is testing advanced tunnel detection systems to be used to stem Palestinian weapons smuggling along Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip. The team also will teach Egyptian security forces how to operate the system, purchased through the military sales program.

During the next leg of the trip, in Saudi Arabia, Gates is likely to discuss its possible role in helping Afghanistan’s democratically elected government reconcile with the Taliban. Gates said he’ll also encourage continued efforts to influence events in Pakistan.“Whatever they can do to help bring the Pakistanis together in a broader sense to deal with the challenge for the government in Islamabad obviously would be welcomed,” he said.

Gates said he expects the discussions to extend to the deposition of Yemeni detainees now at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “The Saudis have perhaps the most successful repatriation [and] reeducation program of any country at this point,” he said. “So clearly there will be an interest in pursuing that with them.”

The secretary turned reminiscent as he anticipated returning to Egypt. He recalled the exact date of his first meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek – Aug. 4, 1990 – as the United States was preparing to send troops into Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield.

He also remembered his first visit to Egypt 30 years ago, accompanying then-President Jimmy Carter during the final stages of the Camp David peace talks. “So I always look forward to visiting Egypt and rekindling old friendships,” he said. “It is basically all about strengthening relationships.”

Similarly, Gates said he has made several return visits to Saudi Arabia. “It is good to go back and renew these relationships,” he said.

President Obama has chosen to disregard the advice from the inter-agency panel he created from all the national security agencies to review all the cases of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners. He has decided that American citizens do not have the right to live as long as there are jihadis in Gitmo willing to kill us, apparently. They will be released sometime next week. Have a good weekend. It may be one of our precious few left.

Some of these pig-eatin’ thugs may be released in the United States of America. You can thank President Obama and AG Eric Holder. Some others may face a trial as criminals instead of warring enemies. If this is the case, the gov’t has a greater burden of proof to find these Islamofascists guilty. If they are found not guily, they must be let go. Thank you very much, President Obama.

When the next attack comes, and it will, don’t look at the Conservatives and ask why. We already told you, but you were too busy hating President George W. Bush to care. What a wasted shame.